Opponents Of Driveway Are Too Late

Neighbors of a Mobil gas station on Schoenersville Road in Hanover Township, Northampton County, learned last night how to play "The point is moot."

They complained about a driveway that leads from the gas station onto their street but learned from the Planning Commission that the driveway had been approved by the Zoning Hearing Board.

Planning Chairman Tom Jacob told the group of 12 residents that rulings by the zoning board are binding during the plan approval process. The zoning officials voted Oct. 29 and the vote was subject to appeal for 45 days, but no appeal was made.

"Whatever zoning hearing states, we must follow," said Jacob. "We cannot change what the Zoning Hearing Board has approved."

Mobil is upgrading its six-pump station north of Illicks Mill Road with an eight-dispenser Mobil Mart that will also sell sodas, candy and other items.

The existing station will be torn down, and a canopy will be erected over the four pump islands with two automated dispensers each. Two driveways on Schoenersville Road will remain, but a third on Greenwood Road will be moved away from Schoenersville and back toward the Alexander Park development.

Residents last night said the Greenwood Road driveway was put in as a political favor and doesn't appear on the recorded plan. Residents then produced a tax map to back their claim but found it does not show any driveway cuts.

Planners said they would investigate the Greenwood Road driveway anyway. The planners made no recommendation last night pending written clarification from zoning officials on items approved at a series of meetings last year.

Mobil plans to make an entrance-only driveway on Schoenersville Road close to Illicks Mill Road, keep the second cut on the busy road for both entering and exiting, and designate traffic leaving the station to turn left only onto Greenwood Road, away from the residents.

Planner Andy Butkowski asked how the left-turn only rule would be enforced and was also told that 2 of 3 cars counted leaving the station via Greenwood Road went toward the neighborhood.

Mobil officials said the new station would serve as many as 80 cars during its peak afternoon hour. Gas will be dispensed round-the-clock, but the convenience store will close at 11 p.m.